Authorities hit alleged drug-trafficking street gang

Published: Thursday, October 01, 1998

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - Authorities struck a blow at an alleged drug-trafficking street gang with the arrests of 17 people in a crackdown federal officials said will impact southern New Mexico's drug economy. hxiThe arrests Monday and Tuesday of alleged members and associates of the East Side Locos gang in Las Cruces grew out of an investigation by federal and state authorities.

The suspected leader of the gang, Miguel Manuel Montoya, was already in custody on a July weapons possession charge and was charged in the drug case with those arrested this week.

Montoya, 41, and nine co-conspirators face federal charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, the equivalent of about 11 pounds of the narcotic. Five kilograms of cocaine have an estimated street value of $123,000. The other eight people, including Montoya's wife Bertha, were arrested on state charges of conspiracy to traffic cocaine or criminal solicitation to commit cocaine trafficking.

Two other suspects remained at large Tuesday, but one was expected to surrender voluntarily today.

According to U.S. attorney spokesman Ron Lopez, a large number of guns were among property seized during the round-up of the alleged gang members.

Montoya and the other nine who face federal charges were targeted under federal laws, which carry heavier penalties than those under state drug laws. Conviction on a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine carries an automatic 10-year prison sentence and is punishable by up to life imprisonment.

According to a search warrant affidavit, police estimated Montoya sold 1 to 3 kilograms of cocaine a week through mid- and street-level dealers, meaning his average monthly income may have been as high as $62,000.

FBI spokesman Doug Beldon said the arrests "will have a substantial impact on the drug economy of southern New Mexico."

Montoya, also known as "Uncle Mike," was convicted of murder in 1983 and aggravated battery in 1987.

In a federal court affidavit, a number of cooperating witnesses are said to have been associated with Montoya and his organization for periods of up to 12 years.

According to one informant, he or she was given lists of things to steal, including computers, stereos, guns and other electronic items.

The informant claimed Montoya kept the guns and sold the rest of the stolen property in Las Cruces or El Paso, Texas.

Further information in the case came from monitoring of the Montoya telephone. According to an affidavit, approximately 28,799 calls were placed to or from the Montoya home between Jan. 21 and June 22, an average of 189 calls per day.

The majority of the calls were alleged to involve known or suspected narcotic traffickers.

xieahrnen"The people of southern New Mexico don't need to put up with this," said New Mexico FBI Special Agent in Charge David Kitchen.